Michael J. Pugh

Member

Address:
425 E. Oakdale Blvd, Suite 201
Coralville, IA 52241

One of the firm’s founders, Mike has over 30 years of experience advising clients on a broad array of real estate, corporate, and estate planning matters. He is an expert in complex land use and real estate transactional matters and large-scale development issues. Mike represents members of the development community in legal matters relating to the planning, establishment, and operation of common interest communities and in real estate tax assessment matters. He also represents both lenders and borrowers in finance transactions throughout the United States; as well as clients in the acquisition, financing, development and disposition of every product type in the real estate industry. Mike is known for providing valuable counsel to the firm’s clients and knows how to manage transactions to achieve timely and successful outcomes.

Raised in Iowa City, Mike has a long history of community involvement. His experience includes 32 years of coaching high school football and over 20 years serving as a Director of the Greater Iowa City Area Homebuilders Association. His leadership and expertise have earned him recognition as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” – Land Use and Zoning Law, for the eastern Iowa market (2020, 2022 and 2023). The Corridor Business Journal also selected Mike for inclusion in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of the Corridor Leaders 250 – a listing of the 250 most influential business leaders in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Cathy and four children; running, biking and traveling.

Pugh Hagan Prahm Best Lawyers

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree, University of Iowa
  • Juris Doctor (JD) with honors, Indiana University

Experience

  • Bradley & Riley PC, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Phelan, Tucker, Mullen, Walker, Tucker & Gelman L.L.P., Iowa City, Iowa
  • Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago, Illinois

Professional Memberships and Positions

  • American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Business Law Section
    • Real Estate and Title Law Section
    • Probate and Trust Law Section
  • Johnson County Bar Association
  • Urban Land Institute
  • Community Associations Institute
  • University of Iowa College of Business, former Adjunct Lecturer

Professional Recognition

  • Martingale-Hubbell’s top (“AV”) Peer Review Rating
  • Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning Law (2020, 2022, 2023)
  • Accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate
  • Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning Law (since 2011)
  • Great Plains Super Lawyers-Real Estate Law (since 2022)
  • Selected to the Corridor Business Journal’s Corridor Leaders 250 (2022, 2023 and 2024)

Civic and Volunteer Involvement

  • Iowa City Area Development Group Board of Directors
  • United Way of Johnson County Board of Directors
    • Past Board Chair
  • Greater Iowa City Area Homebuilders Association
    • Board of Directors (since 2002)
  • Iowa City High School, Varsity Assistant Football Coach (1994-2015)
  • Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Program
  • City High Alumni Association, Past President and Director
  • St. Mary’s Catholic Church
    • Financial Council
    • Lay Director
  • Iowa City Downtown Association, Past Director and Treasurer
  • Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, Former Vice-Chair
    • Community Investment Committee Chair